Page 316 - the-scarlet-pimpernel

alive!’
The moon had once more emerged from between the
clouds: the darkness on the cliffs had gone, giving place
once more to brilliant, silvery light. Some of the soldiers
had rushed to the rough, wooden door of the hut, whilst
one of them kept guard over Marguerite.
The door was partially open; on of the soldiers pushed it
further, but within all was darkness, the charcoal fire only
lighting with a dim, red light the furthest corner of the hut.
The soldiers paused automatically at the door, like machines
waiting for further orders.
Chauvelin, who was prepared for a violent onslaught
from within, and for a vigorous resistance from the four fu-
gitives, under cover of the darkness, was for the moment
paralyzed with astonishment when he saw the soldiers
standing there at attention, like sentries on guard, whilst
not a sound proceeded from the hut.
Filled with strange, anxious foreboding, he, too, went to
the door of the hut, and peering into the gloom, he asked
quickly,—
‘What is the meaning of this?’
‘I think, citoyen, that there is no one there now,’ replied
one of the soldiers imperturbably.
‘You have not let those four men go?’ thundered Chauv-
elin, menacingly. ‘I ordered you to let no man escape
alive!—Quick, after them all of you! Quick, in every direc-
tion!’
The men, obedient as machines, rushed down the rocky
incline towards the beach, some going off to right and left,

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